Measurer and funnel



May l2, 1964 D T. oRR

MEASURER AND FUNNEL Filed Jan. 10, 1965 III |23456789wnw 1.1 ILII INVENToR. DALE T. ORR

United States Patent O Filed l'an. 10, 1963, Ser. No. 250,690 3 Claims. (ci. zzz-so) This invention relates to a measurer and funnel apparatus and more particularly to an oil and gas measurer and funnel apparatus for measuring the amount of oil t be mixed with a specific amount of gasoline for use as an outboard motor fuel, and for funneling the required quantities into the fuel mixture in a standard remote outboard motor fuel tank.

It is known that it is necessary to mix a certain amount of oil with gasoline for outboard motor fuel to provide proper lubrication to the outboard motor engine. There have been many and varied Ways to do this, such as knowing the volume of the gas tank and putting a specific amount of gasoline and a specic amount of oil in the gas tank and mixing the contents therein. Also, some gas stations will sell specific quantities of outboard motor fuel already mixed to the desired quantities, but these stations are not always available. However, usually one buys the components for the outboard motor fuel individually, and this requires either premixing in a separate container from the gas tank normally used with the outboard motor, or mixing the components into an empty gas tank to be sure the proper amounts are added thereto. This results in a tedious, messy job and may result in improper amounts of oil and gas being mixed together.

It is the general object of the invention to avoid and overcome the foregoing and other difficulties of and objections to prior art practices by the provision of a combined oil and gas measurer and funnel which allows the proper amounts of oil and gas to be determined from and to be mixed in a standard outboard motor gas tank regardless of what the level of fuel is in the tank, and which measurer also serves as a funnel to pass the measured amount of oil and the required amount of gas into the tank.

Another object of the invention is to provide a very simple, lightweight, compact, and accurate measuring device for outboard motor fuels which can easily be carried and stored with outboard motor equipment so that fuel mixtures for the fuel tank can always be accurate thereby giving longer life and better service to the outboard motor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a measurer and funnel apparatus of an optically clear material which can be used to indicate and measure accurately the proportionate amount of oil required in an outboard fuel mixture, and then to funnel same into a desired container.

Y tending into the chamber, the tube being longer than the combined height of the chamber and the nipple, a seal means positioned between the nipple and the tube, the top of the tube being adapted to seal with the bottom of the chamber when the tube is in its lowermost or funnel position, an upwardly graduated measuring indicia on thek tube, and a downwardly graduated measuring indicia ou 3,132,768 Patented May 12., 1964 the chamber that is complementary to the indicia on the tube.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference should vbe had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of one embodiment of the invention, showing the tube in the upward or fill position; and

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross sectional View of the apparatus of FIGURE 1 with the tube in its downward, or funnel position, and with the tube being partially broken away and partially shown in elevation.

Although the principles of the invention are broadly applicable to measuring and funneling practically any type of liquid or powdery substance, the invention is usually employed in conjunction with measuring and funneling oil and gas for outboard motor fuels and hence it has been so illustrated and will be so described.

With specific reference to the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates generally a cylindrical container, or funnel made of an optically clear'material having an end, or bottom wall 12 and an open top 14. The end wall 12 contains a circular hole 16 therethrough on the longitudinal center line of the container 10, which hole 16 is formed by a downwardly extending annular flange, or nipple 18 that forms an integral part of the container 10. The nipple 18 has an outwardly directed flare 20 at its top portion where it joins to the plate 12, and has an inwardly 'directed iiared lip, or sealing rib 22 on its bottom open end, for reasons set forth hereinafter in more detail.

To complete the structure of the container 1li, a slidable tube 24 is positioned in and extends through the nipple 18 and the opening 16. In order to retain the tube in assembly with the container, an outwardly directed flare 26 is formed on the top end of the tube while the tube may include means such as a cotter pin 23 of some suitable type placedk through holes at the bottom end thereof. Therefore, the maximum upward limit of movement of the tube 24 in relation to the chamber 10 is controlled by the cotter pin 28 contacting the lip 22 of the nipple 18. The maximum downward limit of the tube 24 f is controlled by the flare 26 contacting an inward face 30 of the hole 16 through the plate 12. The maximum downward position of the tube 24 is illustrated in FIGURE 2.

In effect, a seal is formed between the nipple 18 and the slidable tube 24 as the inwardly directed lip 22 of the nipple 18 contacts the tube 24 around the entire periphery thereof. This seal remains effective even when the tube 24 is moved vertically upwardly or downwardly. However, in the maximum downward position as shown in FIGURE 2, another seal is formed by the flare 26 of the tube 24 mating with the surface 3Q of the hole 16 of the plate 12.

As seen most clearly in FIGURE 2, the tube 24 is graduated in evenly spaced divisions which are numbered from the bottom to the top of the tube and are referred to as the tube scale 25. As best seen in FIGURE 1, the container 10 also is graduated in divisions along the longitudinal axes thereof, but it is numbered from the top to the bottom by the container scale 11. The graduated spaces on the container 10 are usually not equal to the graduated spaces on the tube 24, but they are correlated, as will be explained later. The container 10 also is shown with measuring graduations, as indicated on the left side 3 of FIGURE l thereon whereone can readily tell the amount of liquid present in the container 10, in this case either in ounces or pint-quart measurement. It should be understood however that any quantity, or measurement could be so indicated on the container 1d.

To operate the apparatus, the tube 24 is positioned at the maximum downward limit, as shown in FIGURE 2, and the tube is then placed through an opened cap in the top of a standard six-gallon remote outboard motor gas tank. The tube 24 is inserted through the opening in the gas tank until the bottom of the tube engages the bottom of the gas tank. The tube is then removed and the level of thegas in the tank is read to where itV has moistened the tube scale 25 by the tube being placed in the gas tank. Suppose, for example, that the tube 24 has been moistened up to the graduation mark corresponding to the numeral on the tube. The tube 24 would then be moved vertically upwardly to approximately the position shown in FIGURE l of the drawings. In this position, the tube acts essentially as a closed valve to enable the container 10 to hold a fluid. Oil would next be added to the container 10 through the top opening 14 to fill the container 1t) until it reached the graduation mark opposite number 19 on the container scale 11 thereon. The tube 24 would then be pulled down into the maximum downward position when inserted through the opening in the top of the gas tank to form, in eiiect, an open valve position, thereby allowing the oil contained in the chamber 10 to flow into the gas tank, as by a funnel procedure. No gasoline measurement is necessary as the proper amount of oil has been added and the tank just has to be filled to have the proper amount of gas added. The remainder of the gas tank would then be filled to the top by pouring gasoline into the tank through the apparatus of the invention which now is in the form of a funnel. Then the cap would be replaced on the gas tank and the tank preferably is picked up and shaken or swung around by hand to mix the gasoline and oil recently added to the tank.

Thus, exactly the right amount of oil has been added to mix with that `amount of gasoline required to ll the empty 'portion of the tank. The .tube 24, when initially placed into the gas tank, measures the amount of gas remaining in the tank much .als 4the gas gauge on a oar measures the amount of gas remaining in the gas tank of the car. The container 19, with the tube 24 moved to extend therethrough, defines a chamber 30 of iixed volume. By correlating the volume of such chamber with the amount of oil required to be added to diiierent volumes of gasoline in order to till a standard outboard motor mank, the amount of oil needed can be separately measured in the chamber 30, and -then be permitted to ilow into the gas tank. Gasoline then would be added to the tank to ill it and the proper gas-oil ratio is maintained without any sepanate mixing of the fuel.

The container 10, it will be seen, can be of any suitable shape and size and preferably is made from a transparent or translucent synthetic resin plastic material.

The apparatus of the invention is quick andconvenient to use as the container 10 forms a scaled chamber cornelated with the amount of gas needed in a gas tank to indicate and measure the Aamount of oil needed to be added to the gas tank to it with a` proper oil-gasoline mix-ture. Then movement of the tube 24 to its lowermost position enables the container 10 and ltube to act as a funnel `for the measured oil to ow into a gas tank and to facilitate the iii-ling of the tank with gasoline.

The invention defined and explained herein is applicable to a standard six-gallon, outboard motor, remote tank, but could very easily be converted to any outboard motor tank or `any system whereby speciiic quantities of fluids or powdery substances must be mixed together to give the proper combining characteristics. lIhus, when it is not desirable to mix amounts of materials to completely iill a fuel tank, or container, this invention provides a very quick, eicient manner to indicate, or measure the proper of the container, and provides a novel and useful funnel means lin combination therewith.

While in accordance with the patent statutes, one best known embodiment of 4the invention has been lillustrated and described in detail, it is to be particularly understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby but that the inventive scope is defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A portable measurer and funnel apparatus for use in measuring oil for delivery to a gasoline tank for proper oil-gasoline mixtures and for 4filling ythe gasoline ftank and including in combination a measuring container having an open top and a Ibottom with a hole therein and made from ian optically clear plastic matenial, a tube slidably but snugly received in said hole and extending into the container, said tube being longer than said container, an upwardly graduated rneasuning indicia on the tube, a downwardly gnaduated measuring indicia on the container indicating volume levels of a chamber formed in said container between the inner surface of said container and the periphery of said [tube when said tube is moved up to extend atleast to the top of said container, said indicia of the tube and the container being correlated to each other so that the volume of .the chamber at rall indicia thereof is inversely proportionate to a volume measured by a liquid level in ya gasoline tank of known volume by the indicia on the tube to provide the proper quantity of oil which can be poured into said chamber through the open top of said container for use in tilling the tank with an oil-gasoline mixture, said tube having open ends whereby -ater oil is supplied and measured in the chamber between saiid container and the periphery of said tube, said tube can be rmoved downwardly of said container to drain the contents thereof into Ithe gasoline tank through said tube whereby the gasoline tank then can be filled with gasoline through said container and the added gasoline and oil be in a predetermined natio.

2. A portable measurer and funnel apparatus for use -in measuring oil for delivery to la gasoline tank for proper oil-gasoline mixtures for lling the gasoline tia-nk and including in combination a measuring container having an open top and a bottom with a hole therein and being made from et least a translucent plastic material, a tnbe slidably but snugly received in said hole and extending into the container, an upwardly graduated measuring indicia on the tube, a downwardly gnaduated measuring indicia on the container indicating volume levels of a chamber formed in said container between the inner surface of said container and the peniphery of said tube when said tube is moved to extend at least to the top of said container, said .tube being as long as said indicia on said container, said indicia of the tube and the container being correlated to each other so that the volume of the chamber lat all indicia thereof is inversely proportionate to a volume measured by a liquid level `in a gasoline tank of known volume by the indicia on the ftube [to provide the required quantity lof oil for use in illing the gasoline tank with a proper oilegasoline mixture, said tube being exposed at its lower end to be dipped -into a gasoline tank and having open ends whereby after oil is supplied and measured in the chamber between said container andthe periphery of said tube, said tube can be moved downwardly of said container to drain the contents thereof into the gasoline tank through said tube whereby the gasoline tank then can be filled With gasoline through said container and the added gasoline and oil be in a predetermined ratio.

3. A portable measurer and tunnel apparatus for use in measuring oil for delivery to a `gasoline tank for proper oil-gasoline mixtures for filling the gasoline tank and including in combination a measuring container having an open top and a bottom with a hole therein, a cylindrical tube slidably but snugly received in said hole and extending into the container, said tube being longer than said container and having an outwardly anged upper end, an upwardly graduated measuring indicia on the tube, -a downwardly graduated measuring Iindicia on the container indicating Volume levels of a chamber formed in said container between the inner surface of said `container and the periphery of said tube when Isaid tube is moved to extend at least to the top of said container, said indicia of the tube and the container being correlated to each other so that the volume of fthe chamber at all indicia thereof is inversely proportionate to ya volume measured by a liquid level in `a, gasoline tank `of known volume by fthe indicia on lthe tube to provide the proper quantity of oil for use in filling the remainder of the gasoline tank with an oilgasoline mixture, said tube having open ends whereby after oil is supplied and measured the chamber between said container and fthe periphery of said tube, said References Cited in the file of this patent v UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,075,099 Gruettner Oct. 7, 1913 1,248,818 Grouse Dec. 4, 1917 2,488,959 Burbid-ge et al Nov. 22, 1949 2,628,742 Kieruilf Feb. 17, 1953 

1. A PORTABLE MEASURER AND FUNNEL APPARATUS FOR USE IN MEASURING OIL FOR DELIVERY TO A GASOLINE TANK FOR PROPER OIL-GASOLINE MIXTURES AND FOR FILLING THE GASOLINE TANK AND INCLUDING IN COMBINATION A MEASURING CONTAINER HAVING AN OPEN TOP AND A BOTTOM WITH A HOLE THEREIN AND MADE FROM AN OPTICALLY CLEAR PLASTIC MATERIAL, A TUBE SLIDABLY BUT SNUGLY RECEIVED IN SAID HOLE AND EXTENDING INTO THE CONTAINER, SAID TUBE BEING LONGER THAN SAID CONTAINER, AN UPWARDLY GRADUATED MEASURING INDICIA ON THE TUBE, A DOWNWARDLY GRADUATED MEASURING INDICIA ON THE CONTAINER INDICATING VOLUME LEVELS OF A CHAMBER FORMED IN SAID CONTAINER BETWEEN THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID CONTAINER AND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID TUBE WHEN SAID TUBE IS MOVED UP TO EXTEND AT LEAST TO THE TOP OF SAID CONTAINER, SAID INDICIA OF THE TUBE AND THE CONTAINER BEING CORRELATED TO EACH OTHER SO THAT THE VOLUME OF THE CHAMBER AT ALL INDICIA THEREOF IS INVERSELY PROPORTIONATE TO A VOLUME MEASURED BY A LIQUID LEVEL IN A GASOLINE TANK OF KNOWN VOLUME BY THE INDICIA ON THE TUBE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER QUANTITY OF OIL WHICH CAN BE POURED INTO SAID CHAMBER THROUGH THE OPEN TOP OF SAID CONTAINER FOR USE IN FILLING THE TANK WITH AN OIL-GASOLINE MIXTURE, SAID TUBE HAVING OPEN ENDS WHEREBY AFTER OIL IS SUPPLIED AND MEASURED IN THE CHAMBER BETWEEN SAID CONTAINER AND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID TUBE, SAID TUBE CAN BE REMOVED DOWNWARDLY OF SAID CONTAINER TO DRAIN THE CONTENTS THEREOF INTO THE GASOLINE TANK THROUGH SAID TUBE WHEREBY THE GASOLINE TANK THEN CAN BE FILLED WITH GASOLINE THROUGH SAID CONTAINER AND THE ADDED GASOLINE AND OIL WILL BE IN A PREDETERMINED RATIO. 